July 1920

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

JULY, 1920

A Day of Remembrance,

SUNDAY, July 4th, will be specially observed this

year in Seagoe Parish Church. We will commemorate

the sad but glorious July 1st, 1916. An

appropriate Anthem—" Who are these in white robes,"

will be sung by the choir. It will also be the first

anniversary of the Confirmation which was held last

July We specially invite those who were then Confirmed

to be present at the celebration of Holy Communion.

The offerings at both services will be on

behalf of the Co. Armagh Protestant Orphan Society.

We hope this year to double the contributions from

Seagoe Parish to this most useful Society.

Anniversary Service.

An Anniversary Service will be held in Seagoe

Church on Sunday Evening, July 11th, at 7 p.m.—

Preacher, the Rev. Ralph B. Cooke, M. A.. Rector

of All Saint's Church, Belfast. Mr. Cooke, who is a

native of Levaghery, is well known in Seagoe Parish.

Mr. Cooke will also preach at Morning Prayer, on

Sunday. July 11th. The offerings at the Anniversary

Service will be in aid of the Enniskillen Orphan

Fund.

Flower Service,

A Flower Service will be held at Levaghery School

on Sunday, July 4th, at 3-30. The Sunday School

Prizes will also be distributed. Everyone is expected

to bring flowers, which will be sent to Lurgan

Infirmary to brighten the wards.

Col. Blacker's Letters,

We publish in this issue a further instalment of

Col. Blacker's most interesting letters from the front.

They deal for the first, time with actual fighting in

the Trenches.

The Excursion.

The Sunday School Children had splendid day at

Warrenpoint, on Thursday, June 17th. Though it

rained early in the morning not drop fell from the

time the procession left the church. It was a perfect

day—real Seogoe Weather and the sea and the

mountains looked beautiful under the summer sun.

Gilbert Price had the tea ready for us in good time,

and the buns were fine. The recent rains had laid

the dust, and everything combined to make the

excursion a very happy experience.

Prayerless Marriages,

Some of our people have recently seen fit to marry

in the Registry Office, At a most solemn crisis in

their life they reject the prayers and ministrations of

the Church. Can they expect the Divine Blessing in

their future life? Perhaps some have done it

thoughtlessly, but we hope we have seen the last of

these Prayerless Marriages.

Acknowledgement,

Mission Week, Drumnagoon—Miss H. Dickson,

8/3. Florence Court, Joseph Street, etc.—Miss Ena

Allen, 9/11. Kernan—Miss E. McLaughlin, 14/3.

Carrickblacker Road—Miss A. Cox, 5 2. Carne—

Miss A. Connolly. 9/-. Bridge Street—Miss A.

Johnstom 5/6. Carrickblacker- Avenue—Miss A.

Gates, 2/3. Total, 14s 4d. Total to Bs ld.

Bible Society—5s each : Selina Bradshaw, Sarah

McDowell, Samuel Jennett, Wm. Gracey, Lottie

Magee, 2/4; Mnggie Wilson. 3/2. Three Cards not

yet returned. Complete total so far received,£1 16s ld.

S P.G. Missions—2/6 each, James White, May

Johnston, Lily Wilson, W. J. Hewitt, Maisie Steenson,

Lily Morton, Maggie Gracey, Robert Hewitt, A.

Rainey. Three Cards not yet returned.

Seagoe War Memorial,

List of Subscriptions.—Total, £339 6s 9d.

£20 each—Lt. col. S. W. Blacker, F. Armstrong.

£10 each—W. R. Atkinson, Rey. Canon Archer,

Alan Bell, R.M.; David Rock.

£7—Thomas Walker (Levaghery).

£5 each—T. E, Maginnis, David Murray, Thomas

Martin, John Montgomery, James Twinem, Robert

Price. J. H. Stevenson, James Sands, A. Costello,

J. G, Gracey, Jos. Monro, Mrs. W. R. Atkinson, Miss

Atkinson, Miss G. Atkinson, Thomas J, Joyce, Mrs.

W. Best, Hugh Stoops, J. L. Gilpin, George Reid,

John Lavery, Ephraim Collins, W, J. Atkinson Mrs.

W, Walker, Dr. W. Walker, Mrs. Fitzroy, Jas. Boyce,

Mrs. W. Best, W. J. Calvert, Miss Calvert, Miss

Armstrong. T. J. Montgomery, F. D. Collen, W. and

Mrs. Irwin.

£4 Samuel Abraham.

£3 each—Miss Armstrong's Edenderry Women's

Bible Class, The Misses Dawson,

£2 10s each — F. Robinson (l st Wilson,

Wm. Wilson, James W. Mayes, Sunday School

Collection.

£2 each—R. Gracey,Mrs. R. J. Archer, Dr. Hadden,

Thomas Dickson, W, Browne, T. M 'Keown, E) im

Magee, T. H. Wilson.

£ 1 10s each—James Bradshaw, Samuel Walker,

Mrs. Taylor, J. H. Hughes, Jos. M'Loughlin.

£1 1s—Mrs. E. M. Hall.

£1 each—W. J. McDowell, G. S. Neil), Pte. Neill,

N.Z. Force ; Nicholas England, Mrs, Twinem, Robert

Hopps, Sam. H. Best, Mrs. Carrick, Miss M 'Collum,

Robert Coulter, Sergt. J. Shepherd, George Jennett,

MIS. J. Walker, S. Rennix, Thomas Hoy, John

Sandford, John Flannigan, T. Shanks, Mrs. Shanks,

Mrs. Frazer, Windsor Terrace, Belfast ; Mrs. Gerrard.

Samuel Guy, Derryvore.

10s each—Mrs. Hoy, J. Gracey, jun.; Joe Lewie,

Mrs. Lewie, Mrs. Craig, R. M'Cormack, W. J.

England, Mrs. Preston, Miss Sands, Mrs. Bond,

Robert Dunlop, John Lavery, Miss Dynes,

6s—Mrs. M'Mu11en,

5s each—Thomas M'Dowell, Alex M'Cormick, John

Gordon, J. M'Keown, Mrs. C. Twinem, H. Graham, J.

Shanks, late Robert M'Knight, W. Campbell, H.

Cooke, L. Mayes, Mrs. E, J. M'Cormick, Ed. Webb

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

Richard Maxwell, W. J. Cox, Mrs. W. Rowan, Thos.

Metcalf.

4s —Joshua Chambers. 3s 6d Isabella Coburn.

3s 3d —James Webb.

2s 6d each—Misses Rodgers, We Graham, Margaret

M'Kain, Mrq. Gibson, Wm, Tedford.

2s each—Mrs. Wm. Best, W. J. Thompson. W.

Lutton, J. Flavel, E. Hawthorn, Mrs. Johnston, John

M'Cann, Ann Wells.

1s each—Mrs. Clayton, W. Fleming.

Interest to date—£5 3s ld.

PARISH REGISTER for JUNE.

The following were Baptized in Seagoe Parish

Church, on June 5th, 1920—

Baptisms.

McElroy—Doris, daughter of William and Elizabeth McElroy, of Drumnagoon.

Sponsors—Mary Forde, Elizabeth McElroy.

Fiddes — Robert Logan, son of Robert Logan and Mary Fiddes, of Edenderry.

Sponsors —Maria, Weir, Mary Fiddes.

Porter—Gladys Winifred, daughter of Robert Henry and Jemima Porter, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Agnes Wilson, Mary Anne Allen.

Gracey—Hannah, daughter of William and Rebecca Gracey, of Bolteagh.

Sponsors—Kathleen Frances McMullan, Hannah Gracey.

Hara—Dorothy, doughter of Robert and Mary Hara of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Charlotte Matilda Clayton, Mary Hara.

McDowell—Eileen Maude, daughter of William Jas. and Anna Maria McDowell, Of Levaghery.

Sponsors—W illiam James McDowell, Anna Maria McDowell.

Armstrong—On EaSter Day, April 4th, 1920, in St. Mary's Episcopal Church,South Monehesters

Connecticut, U.S.A., Everett Best, son, of Richard and Lena Best Armstrong

(formerly of Ballyhannon. )

Sponsors—Thomas Haddock, Richard Armstrong, Lena Best Armstrong.

Marriage,

Walker and Webber—On the 17th June, 1920, at

St. Barnabas, Rotherhithe, London, Isaac

Walker, of Upper Seagoe, to Emma Webber, Rotherhithe,

Burials,

McCabe—June 7th, Joseph McCabe, of Edenderry aged 9 months.

Preston—June 8th, Margaret Preston, of Ballinteggart, formerly of Ballinacor, aged 31 years.

The workmen are engaged at Seagoe Church preparing for the erection of the War Memorial walls

and gates.

WITH THE "NINTH" IN FRANCE,

By Lieut.-Col. S. W. BLACKER, D.S O.

October 20— [Hebuterne] —Continued.

Halahan is splendid, and is now living with us, Munro goes to Dardenelles. I think we just escaped Balkans. They put 200 large shells into this village the day before we came in; no casualties to speak of. None yesterday or today. They hammered on part of this trench line two days ago; 400 high explosive shells; only three casualties, owing to the line being held lightly in front. Some of the 107th Brigade (Belfast regiments) got shelled whilst bathing, and had 15 wounded. Firing (somewhat desultory) rifle—goes on always. If place is bombarded we retire to cellars. We are all very fit and cheery. McClintock (late Berks) commands one of these Brigades; he is now in reserve, resting. We have captured a table and three chairs. Last night coming in we had to move 150 yards between platoons, and a like distance between vehicles. A guide met each company and took it off. This place is a ruin, the church battered to pieces, and shell holes in most houses. Not an inhabitant in the place. I met Munro attached to ‘I’ Battery, after Staff College, in 1890. Yesterday before leaving I addressed a few words to the men, and Halahan held a 10 minute service. Very nicely done.

The trenches here are most comfortable, brick floors and officer’s dug-outs, with shelves, mirrors and beds; far more comfortable than billets. We have made our billet much better today. It is a one-storied house, with four rooms. Padre, Fergie, and Pratt in one room, Adjt. and I in another, which we use an ante-room, and a mess room and kitchen. We have rigged up a door and window and got the fireplace in order, so tonight are very cosy. A great outbreak of rifle and machine gun fire lasted from 4.30 to 6.00 p.m. and has now died away. A good cellar to this house. Plenty of derelict houses from which to take wood, doors, etc. but not a pane of glass in the place.

Thursday October 21st

We leave here 26th, and return to our original billets. Been all round another Battalion trenches this morning. Good walk; foggy morning. Am dining with another CO, and going round his trenches tonight. Wonderfully quiet last night, and we all slept like tops, and were most comfortable. Stronge and transport are about 1½ miles away and he comes in for each meal. Fanshawe is Divisional General of this Division, brother of the gunner. Very nice fellow. The mail bags I use as a zareba round my bed to keep off the wind. The first night we were here a working party composed of a few Glo’sters and some of our men, had two shells into them. Two Glo’sters were killed, and two of our men knocked down by the blast, but not touched and quite unhurt. I expect they will write home a useful account!

I visited the soldiers’ cemetery. About 30 graves, nicely kept, all with wooden crosses, about four feet in height. While here three of our aeroplanes came over and the Huns opened fire on them. No result, but very pretty to watch the bursting shell very high up. Our howitzers then shelled the Huns over our heads. Pratt and I dine out with Micklem, CO of 1/6th Gloucesters. Was a subaltern in 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Knew Freddy. Wounded in November. Took over Adjutancy of Territorial Battalion and has now got command. After six years’ service!! 7 pm. In the middle the Huns fired two shells into the village. One burst in our yard, and one in the next. Pratt, Adjt and I retired to the cellar, but we’re up again now. A joint patrol of our men and the others, with young ‘ Shill.’ and another officer, went out last night and met a similar patrol of Huns—result a scrap, in which we bagged one Hun, brought in and heard groans from three others. Our casualties nil, which was very good. Young ‘Shill.’ I hear, was excellent.

Friday October 22 ^nd

I arrived just as they were bringing the German into the trenches; shot through the lung. Fairly quiet night, lovely day. No more shelling. 2nd Division gone from here to Salonika and we to take their place in trench line, and not to return to our billets.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23rd

Still lovely weather. A fairly quiet day and night, and all well. Today we are going to strafe them with MGs and guns of all sorts. We are not to return to our old billets but go somewhere else near here, I fancy, and take over a bit of the line from some Division gone away. At least that is the rumour. Dined last night with Nicholson. Capital fellow. He told me ours were the best lot he’d had under instruction, which was satisfactory. Had our first casualty last night— Pte. Wilson , ‘C’ Company, flesh wound in arm, rifle bullet.

Col. Balfour commands Royal Artillery. Just had tea with him. He left 18 years ago, and years ago took up Terriers RFA. Lives at Tetbury. Says Dickie is up north in Flanders. Great gunner. Hotham with him. Great strafe on our part, for half an hour, from 3.30 pm. All our guns—howitzers and 6-inch heavies poured in high-explosive shell on the Hun trenches. I watched it with the General from a capital place. Very pretty and accurate shooting. So far no reply at all. We leave here on Monday, I believe, and go behind the line again into safety for some time. Our movements are uncertain, but we move back on Monday. Carson made a fine speech on resignation, one of the best he has ever made. All very fit and well, and now quite into the changed conditions of living.

Sunday October 24 ^th

Quiet night after all. We leave in the morn. Our people all coming out of the trench line now, and billet with the reserve tonight, setting off tomorrow morning, and having baths en route. We stay the night at a new place, and on to another place about 12 miles. We’ve had a capital week here, lovely weather and the men have enjoyed themselves. Three shells into far end of the village this a.m., and they’ve been spraying it with M.G. fire this p.m. No casualties. Three of our aeroplanes over the village this p.m., and the Huns fired at them for some time, but no result. I had a long morning round the trenches of the right battalion of the Brigade—with communication trenches, etc. They have eight miles of trenches to keep up! Geoffrey Bishop just got his commission, and Bishop with Reserve Cavalry in England. Adjutant had a sniping shot at a Hun at 800 yards range this morning. He made him move under cover pretty smart, but did not, I think, actually hit him tho’ very close. Poor Serbia seems in a bad way. Nasty blow about Bulgaria. In a way we are more comfy here, as it’s the first place we have managed to get firewood for a fire. A shell dropped near old Ensor in the trenches yesterday, and he dug up the nose of it and is carrying it about—(1 ½ lbs weight)—full of pride. Halahan is a splendid fellow, and Berry excellent, too. Service for Transport today, all the rest of the Battalion in the trenches.

Tuesday October 26th

Here we are back again at the place we stopped before going into the trenches. Only one casualty this week. ‘Downs’ [ 13th Royal Irish Rifles] one, 11th and 12th [ Royal Irish Rifles ] eleven. We now trek away 12 miles today, and 12 tomorrow, well behind the line. 109th Brigade go into the trenches for a week. Rumours of all sorts. 3rd Army goes to Salonika is one. We go South West . Lunched with McClintock yesterday, and a good warm at the fire. They’re in the chateau, and they get the ‘Times’ the same evening! We got here after a 12 hour march. Large town, scattered billets. Move on tomorrow, 10 miles, when we stay for a week, when we go back to the trenches, taking the place of a Battalion in the 4th Division, to who we and the 109th Brigade shall belong for the period of two months we are trenching. I believe we shall take turns with a Brigade of that Division—8 days in and 8 days out. (Service in [ place-name removed—probably ‘Dardanelles’ ] I’m glad to say, not for us.) Lovely day, cold wind. 107th Brigade had about 25 casualties, I believe. I don’t actually live in the trenches, but in village 200 yards in rear. Was walking round them day and night, the exercise did me good. They are very much what I thought, but more maze like, and difficult to find one’s way about. More comfortable also for both officers and men. Very late before we got settled in tonight. We got a good report from the Trenches, I believe. Symon was out with the R.A., [ Royal Artillery ] but went to Vickers’ works to get some job. Our interpreter is troublesome and lazy. Roads very slushy today after yesterday’s rain.

Wednesday October 27^th

Managed to keep quite warm last night tho’ we were under canvas. Very comfy billet tonight. Rain first, and then lovely sun. Roads exceptionally [ remainder of letter missing, as are those of 28-30 October .]

muddy and tiring. Another 12 mile march and the

were tired, but Halahan and Berry cheered them

on, and we came in all right, dropping no one en

route. 107th go into Trenches next week instead of

us. Rumours of all sorts. We stay on here for three

or four weeks, and then take up some Trenches with

109th and a Regular Brigade. Very nice comfortable

billets, tho' we are scattered. A & B and H.Q. here,

and Brig. H.Q. and C about 1 ½ miles away, and D

ditto, in another direction. Adjt. and I each a room

with bed in this house, with mess and kitchen. A

nice woman who tells me she had an English Gen.

here, with family, for six years, some years ago, so

she understands English ways. The King and K

inspected 107h and 109th Brigades. We were in the

trenches. The houses and barns are much less

tumble down than in our first village, but the roads

very muddy. I hope we may be here three weeks at

least. All are well and fit on the life, and improving.

Casualties so far—

107th Brigade

108th

R.A.

27

45

We took these Trenches over from the French, but

we bricked them. Bavarians opposite us. Don't

know where we shall go into the line, probably

south.

October 29th—Friday.

Such a pouring day. Never ceased. Mud everywhere,

over your ankles. Such luck not to have this

in Trenches. We are not allowed to send any articles

of clothing home. Am getting washing done here.

They have issued us with goatskin coats for the men.

"Holt'" is in the Trenches near Ypres. Fine and

sunny to-day, and we cleaned up roads and billets, etc.

a nice bath tonight. Manage one now once

week. I fancy this Salonika show is not thought out

and will be a similar muddle to the Dardanelles show.

Some 12 men looted a cabaret last night, and got

Violently drunk on spirits. Shall have them tried and

bottled, I hope. No chance of getting change in these

villages, silver being a scarce commodity,paper 5 franc

notes being the smallest.

October 30th.

Behind the line the absence of men and the

tumble down outhouses, strike one most, and desolate

condition of gardens Country well and carefully

cultivated by women and old men. In the Trench

line, and for a mile behind it, the reversion of the

land to its primitive state (no crops only a waste of

meeds) is sad, and total absence of inhabitants. Of

course our bombardment was small, guns well behind

and only lasted an hour. Noise not bad ; M.G. and

Infantry fire worse; bursting of large shells on enemy

Trenches deafening,but on the whole nothing to bother

about. One looks out over a deserted country, not a

sign of life, nothing but weeds, woods, isolated trees,

and a maze of Trenches. Hard to realize that they

are full of men, waiting and looking for an oppor

to attack or snipe you. Totally different from S.AW

and, of course, India. No terrible sights as yet. The

day before we got into the line an officer of the Terrier

Warwicks moved from his very deep dug-out, afraid

of being buried alive, and went to a Signallers.

observation post ; an 8-inch shell dropped right on it,

and there was nothing left I believe.

Halahan is getting up a sing-song next week.

We've managed to rig up baths and hot water in the

three villages, and to-morrow is to be devoted to

bathing, hair cuttings and intervals of Divine Worship

cleanliness being next to Godliness. The last troops

here were Indian Cavalry, who left the place dirty,

and apparently did not get on with the inhabitants.

I believe we are fixed here for a month ; started

musketry to-day, about a mile off. My room is off

the kitchen, with a door, shut of course, and not used

in between, but every voice is audible—much

chattering. The mess room is another kitchen, with

a brick floor and curious sort of range—small

fire.

[To BE CONTINUED.]

Seagoe School Repairs.

Receipts—W.R.Atkinson 10s, John Montgomery 5s,

T. E Maginnis 10s, John E. Lavery 5s, T. J. Montgomery

10s, Thomas Martin 5s, James Sands, 10s

Joseph Monro 5s, J. H. Stevenson 5s, Andrew

Costello 5s, James Twinem 5s, Lt.-Col. Blacker,

D.S.O., 10s, D. W. Murray 10s, W. J. M'Dowe11, 5s,

Thomas M'Cauley 5s, George Jennett 5s, Ephraim

Collins 5s, John G. Gracey 5s, Wolsey White 5s,

Wm. Holmes 5s. Samuel Rennix 10s, Samuel Hall 5s,

Miss Calvert 5s, Robert Price 5s. Total £7 15s Od.

Expenses—4 bags cement 1s, 4 loads jink £l 8s 9d

3 loads broken stones £l Is 5d, Labour £18, Cartage

12s 6d—£7 11s 8d. Balance 3s 4d, Total £7 15s 0d.

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES

Hidden Towns and Rivers—Perth, York, Naples,

Tagus.

Word Diamond—I, End, India, Din A—C,

Cover, Ten, R.

ITEMS,

The New Hymnal will be introduced into Seagoe

Church on Sunday, September 5th. Everyone should

purchase a copy without delay.

Sincere sympathy and regret are expressed at the

sudden death of Mrs. Margaret Preston, wife of Mr.

George Preston, of Ballinacor. The anxiety of her

husband's long imprisonment in Germany seriously

affected her health.

Miss Margaret Isabella Best has been appointed a

Monitress in Seagoe School.

Three Seagoe lads, Andy Hall, Joe Mathers and

Ben Neill are serving with the British Army in North

Persia, and are at present stationed at Kasvin. They

are unpleasantly near the Bolshevist forces.